Page 51 of The Huntsman's Heart
Once he’s released, he stands, pulling his hands up quickly, and I step back, putting the knife between us, ready to fight him if I need to. Alaric only massages his wrists and shakes out hishands, which must be stiff after days of being forced into the same position.
We watch each other for a long moment. I know the gargoyles are close by. I told them what I was considering, but I must admit the decision to free him again tonight was spur of the moment. As I think this, Raban and Corvin alight next to me.
“Be careful, princess.”
Alaric still hasn’t moved beyond shaking out his arms.
I sheathe my knife. “He is not going to do anything.” I’m not certain if I truly believe that, but saying it out loud feels better than wondering.
The hounds come tearing into the courtyard, barking and nipping at Alaric’s heels. I quiet them with a hushing sound, and they trot over to sit at my feet. “So what now?”
“I must return to Blackthorn eventually. If I am gone too long, she will question where I have been and I will be forced to tell her.”
I nod. This makes sense. “Then I will go with you. And we will search for your heart.”
“It will be hidden somewhere close to her. She would never leave it out of reach for long. She does not trust me enough.”
“You have never seen where she keeps it?”
He shakes his head. “It would be a mistake for her to let me.”
Corvin leans close. “Are you sure you can trust him, traveling alone together?” He ruffles his wing feathers, clearly unhappy about the idea.
Lifting a hand, I place it on his cheek and he calms. “No. But I think the risk is worth it.”
Behind Corvin, Évandre gives me a little smile and a nod.
Corvin says nothing, but I feel the tension in his jaw.
“I wish we could come with you,” says Raban.
“I wish you could too,” I tell him.
Évandre steps closer to Alaric, hand on the hilt of his sword. “If you harm our princess there is no magic in this or all the twelve kingdoms that will stop us from finding you.”
Alaric’s brows lift. I expect him to sneer at Évandre, but instead he inclines his head. “You have my word, so far as it is in my power. If the queen orders me to harm her, I will not have a choice, but hopefully it will not come to that.”
“Some ally,” Corvin scoffs.
Alaric turns to me. “Right now Melantha thinks you are dead. It would be best to keep it that way, which means you cannot be seen anywhere near Thornvale where you may be recognized. You must stay hidden.”
“Fine.”
He gives me a skeptical look. “You will have some learning to do on the way.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “Perhaps you have already forgotten who ambushed you in the woods and kept you here as my prisoner for days.”
“Perhaps you would like to be chewed up and spat back out by dire wolves again, my lady.”
I let out an angry huff. “Not going to happen. And how do you know about that anyway?”
“You left quite a trail. How do you suppose I found you?”
That takes me aback. Maybe I do have a thing or two to learn from him after all. Not that I’ll admit as much to him. “When do we start?”
“The sooner the better.”
I’m struck suddenly with the realization that I’m truly leaving my sweet gargoyles, and there’s a good chance I won’t return. Throat tight, I stiffen my spine. “Give me a moment, then. I will get my things.”
